Speaking at the Kitzbuhel world cup downhill skiing event, he told the Tiroler Tageszeitung newspaper: "People love seeing a bit of danger.

"If there was a circus where the acrobat balances a few inches above the ground, no one would go.

"But the way we have improved safety in formula one is hardly comparable (with skiing)," Ecclestone added. "If you could choose something to have an accident in, you would probably pick a formula one car.

"The drivers in formula one have big accidents, undo their seatbelts and climb out. And that's a good thing," he said.